Braiding-machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. V. GROUPE. BRAIDING MACHINE.

No. 588,421. Patented Aug. 17, 1897.

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Patented Aug. 17, 1897.

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(No Model.)

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. V. GROUPE. BRAIDING MACHINE.

No.'588,421. Patented Aug. 17, 1897;

Witnesses. Inventor.

Attorney.

PATENT FFICE.

ANDREW V. GROUPE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAlDlNG- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,421, dated August17, 1897. I v Application filed December 14,1896. Serial No. 615,684.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW V. GROUPE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBraiding-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

This invention relatesto braiding-machines of that general class whereintwo oppositelydriven sets of thread-carriers and their complementaryparts are constructed and organized to effect the platting together ofthe threads for the purpose of forming a cord of braid or a braidedcovering for a central core. It has especial reference to that type ofmachines wherein two sets of bobbins are rotated in concentric paths andthe threads of one set are directed over and under those of the otherset successively, so as to attain the braiding of the several threads ata central point.

The essential feature of my invention resides in the construction andarrangement of a sectional traokway for the carriers of one set ofbobbins and in the mechanism for actuating said carriers, whereby thethreads of the other set of bobbins are directed in an easy coursebetween the adjacent track-sections and over and under the same and thecarriers thereon in a manner to minimize the friction of thecooperating. parts and to insure a practically uniform tension on therespective threads, thus increasing the speed of the machine and,perforce, the quality and quantity of the material produced thereby.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying myinvention and 7 are diagrams of sections of the threadcourse,illustrating the passage of one of the bobbin-carriers and the positionsof the actuating-pins therefor relative to the thread. .Fig. 8 is asection of the rocking lever for said pins and a portion of the camwayfor actuating said lever. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail as on the line 00at of Fig. 4:.

The bed-plate 1, lateral uprights 2, and cross-bar 3 constitute theframework of the machine. The main driving-shaft 4 is journaled inbearings on the bed-plate and is provided on its inner end with a bevelgearwheel 5, which coacts with two similar wheels 6 7 on the lower endsof two concentric tubular shafts 8 9, respectively. Between thesetubular shafts isa stationary shaft 10, which rises fixedly from thebed-plate.

To the shaft 8 is fixed a skeleton plate or spider 11, on the under sideof which are supported at intervals apart the lower threadsupplyingbobbins 12. In the present instance the trunnions or shafts for thesebobbins are supported between the plate 11 and, outwardly-extendingspring tension-fingers 13 on the wheel 6, whereby the threads may bedrawn from the bobbins under the requisite tension. On the periphery ofthe plate 11 at points adjacent to the respective bobbins are verticalarms let, which are provided at their upper and lower ends,respectively, with perforated extensions 15 for the passage and guidanceof the threads on their Way to and through a sinuous slot or camway 16,by means of which such threads are raised and lowered in respect to afixed annular trackway. 17 and upper bobbin-carriers 1S thereon, ashereinafter described. This slot or camway is'formed by and between thelower and upper edges of two concentric rings 19 and 20, respectively,the upper one of "which is fixed to the uprights of the main frame andthe lower one to a spider or plate 21 on the upper end of the fixedshaft 10.

The annular trackway just referred to is secured to the inner faces ofthe rings 19 20 on a horizontal plane midway between'the highest andlowest planes intersected by the undulations of the camway and isdivided into sections on diagonal lines coinciding with the adjacentinclined portions of the camway. Hence the sections are supportedunderneath the highest portions of the camway and above the lowestportions thereof, and the spaces between the adjacent ends of the re-'spective sections constitute in effect a part or continuation of thecamway. The trackway is preferably, though not essentially, T- shaped incross-section for the reception of the correspondingly grooved orrecessed bobbin-carriers 18, which travel thereon in a directionreversely of the lower bobbins above described. The upper bobbins aresupported between inwardly-extending spring tensionfingers 22 on thecarrier, and the threads from these bobbins are drawn through asuitably-disposed guide-arm 23 to the central braiding point.

The means for rotating the upper bobbincarriers is of such constructionas to permit the passage of the threads from the lower bobbins over andunder the upper carriers, as dictated by the camway. Therefore drivingmechanism of the following description is provided, although it may beremarked other means to the same end may be used without departing fromthe essential feature of the invention.

On the upper end of the central tubular shaft 9 is a plate or spider24:, 011 the under side of which, adjacent to the respectivebobbin-carriers 18, are depending brackets 25. Fulcrumed on each of thebrackets is a rocking lever 26, which carries on its respective armsvertically reciprocable pins 27 28. These pins are fitted to and guidedin appro priate perforations in the spider and are adapted, by actuationof the lever, to register alternately with sockets 29 30, respectively,in the under side of the carrier, one pin remaining in engagement withits socket before the retraction of the other pin, and thereby insuringthe continuous rotation of the carrier by and with the underlying plateor spider.

'On one arm of the leveris a roller 31, which travels in a camway 32,formed on or secured to the lower fixed ring 20, such way being ofappropriate contour to elfect the actuation of the lever at properintervals in respect to the upper thread-course 16, to the end thatwhile the threads are being guided to the under sides of the respectivecarriers 18 the advance pins 27 are retracted and disengaged from thelatter to permit the threads to pass freely between said carriers andpins, and before said threads meet the succeeding rearward pins 28,which are engaged with the carriers, the latter pins are retracted anddisengaged therefrom simultaneously with the reengagcmeut of the advancepins with the respective carriers.

From the above-described construction it will be seen that the two setsof bobbins are rotated in contrary directions to each other and that thethreads delivered therefrom are directed to the central or braidingpoint, and, furthermore, that the threads delivered from the lowerbobbins are guided in a sinuous course during their rotation, so as topass through and between the adjacent sections of the trackway for theupper bobbin-carriers and over and under said sections and carriers toeffect the braiding operation with rapidity and efficiency.

I claim 1. In a braiding-1n aehine, the combination, with astationarysectional trackway provided with threadways between theadjacent sections, carriers on said trackway, bobbins on said carriers,and means for actuating said carriers, of a second set of bobbins,supportin g and actuating means therefor, and means whereby the threadsfrom the last-named bobbins aredirected between, under and over sectionsof the trackway in prescribed order, substantially as described.

2. In a braiding-machine, the combination of a sectional trackwayprovided with threadways between adjacent sections, carriers on saidtrackway, bobbins on said carriers, means for actuating said carriers, asecond set of bobbins, actuating means therefor, and means forsupporting the trackway on each side of the path traversed by thethreads delivered from the second set of bobbins, whereby said threadsmay be directed between, under and over sections of the trackway inprescribed order, substantially as described.

3. In a braiding-machine, the combination of two stationary ringsbetween which is formed a sinuous course, a sectional trackway, a set ofbobbin-carriers on said trackway, means for rotating said carriers, asecond set of bobbins, and means for supportin g and rotating the same,whereby the threads from the last-named bobbins are directed between,under and over sections of the trackway in prescribed order,substantially as described.

4. In a braiding-machine, the combination, with a stationary sectionaltrackway provided with .threadways between the adjacent sections,bobbin-carriers 011 said trackway, and carrier-actuating mechanismprovided with devices for alternately engaging and disengaging each ofthe carriers at two different points, of a second set of bobbins,supporting and actuating means therefor, and means whereby the threadsfrom the last-named bobbins are directed between, under and oversections of the trackway in prescribed order, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a braiding-machine, the combination of two stationary ringsbetween which is formed a sinuous course, a sectional trackway, a set ofbobbin-carriers thereon, a fixed camway, rocking levers engagedtherewith and provided with means for engaging and disengaging saidcarriers at predetermined intervals, means for supporting and actuatingsaid levcrs, lower thread-supplying devices, and means for rotating thesame, substantially as described.

(5. In a braiding-machine, the combination of two rings between which isformed a sinuous course, an annular trackway intermediate the highestand lowest planes of, and In testimony whereof I have hereuntoafintersected by, the course, thread-supplying fixed my signature in thepresence of two subdevices on said trackway,- lower thread-supscribingwitnesses. plying devices, and mechanism for rotating ANDREWV V. GROUPE.5 said upper and lower thread-supplying de- Witnesses:

Vices in opposite directions to each other, JOHN R. NOLAN,

substantially as described. JOHN F; BASFORD.

